By midsummer Singer had visitors more often than any other person in the house. From his room in the evening there was nearly always the sound of a voice.After dinner at the New York Café he bathed and dressed himself in one of his cool wash suits and as a rule did not go out again.The room was cool and pleasant.He had an icebox in the closet where he kept bottles of cold beer and fruit drinks.He was never busy or in a hurry.And always he met his guests at the door with a welcome smile.
Mick loved to go up to Mister Singer's room. Even if he was a deaf-and-dumb mute he understood every word she said to him.Talking with him was like a game.Only there was a whole lot more to it than any game.It was like finding out new things about music.She would tell him some of her plans that she would not tell anybody else.He let her meddle with his cute little chess men.Once when she was excited and caught her shirt-tail in the electric fan he acted in such a kindly way that she was not embarrassed at all.Except for her Dad, Mister Singer was the nicest man she knew.
When Doctor Copeland wrote the note to John Singer about Augustus Benedict Mady Lewis there was a polite reply and an invitation for him to make a call when he found the opportunity. Doctor Copeland went to the back of the house and sat with Portia awhile in the kitchen.Then he climbed the stairs to the white man's room.There was truly none of the quiet insolence about this man.They had a lemonade together and the mute wrote down the answer to the questions he wished to know.This man was different from any person of the white race whom Doctor Copeland had ever encountered.Afterward he pondered about this white man a long time.Then later, inasmuch as he had been invited in a cordial manner to return, he made another visit.
Jake Blount came every week. When he walked up to Singer's room the whole stairway shook.Usually he carried a paper sack of beers.Often his voice would come out loud and angry from the room.But before he left his voice gradually quieted.When he descended the stairs he did not carry the sack of beers any longer, and he walked away thoughtfully without seeming to notice where he was going.
Even Biff Brannon came to the mute's room one night. But as he could never stay away from the restaurant for long, he left in a half-hour.
Singer was always the same to everyone. He sat in a straight chair by the window with his hands stuffed tight into his pockets, and nodded or smiled to show his guests that he understood.
If he did not have a visitor in the evening, Singer went to a late movie. He liked to sit back and watch the actors talking and walking about on the screen.He never looked at the title of a picture before going into a movie, and no matter what was showing he watched each scene with equal interest.
Then one day in July, Singer suddenly went away without warning. He left the door of his room open, and on the table in an envelope adddessed to Mrs.Kelly there were four dollars for the past week's rent.His few simple possessions were gone and the room was very clean and bare.When his visitors came and saw this empty room they went away with hurt surprise.No one could imagine why he had left like this.
Singer spent all of his summer vacation in the town where Antonapoulos was being kept in the asylum. For months he had planned this trip and imagined about each moment they would have together.Two weeks beforehand his hotel reservation had been made and for a long time he had carried his railroad ticket in an envelope in his pocket.
Antonapoulos was not changed at all. When Singer came into his room he ambled placidly to meet his friend.He was even fatter than before, but the dreamy smile on his face was just the same.Singer had some packages in his arms and the big Greek gave them his first attention.His presents were a scarlet dressing-gown, soft bedroom slippers, and two monogrammed nightshirts.Antonapoulos looked beneath all the tissue papers in the boxes very carefully.When he saw that nothing good to eat had been concealed there, he dumped the gifts disdainfully on his bed and did not bother with them any more.
The room was large and sunny. Several beds were spaced in a row together.Three old men played a game of slapjack in a corner.They did not notice Singer or Antonapoulos, and the two friends sat alone on the other side of the room.
It seemed to Singer that years had passed since they had been together. There was so much to say that his hands could not shape the signs with speed enough.His green eyes burned and sweat glittered on his forehead.The old feeling of gaiety and bliss was so quick in him again that he could not control himself.
Antonapoulos kept his dark, oily eyes on his friend and did not move. His hands fumbled languidly with the crotch of his trousers.Singer told him, among other things, about the visitors who had been coming to see him.He told his friend that they helped take his mind away from his lonesomeness.He told Antonapoulos that they were strange people and always talking—but that he liked to have them come.He drew quick sketches of Jake Blount and Mick and Doctor Copeland.Then as soon as he saw mat Antonapoulos was not interested Singer crumpled the sketches and forgot about them.When the attendant came in to say that their time was up, Singer had not finished half of the things he wanted to say.But he left the room very tired and happy.
The patients could receive their friends only on Thursday and Sunday. On the days when he could not be with Antonapoulos, Singer walked up and down in his room at the hotel.
His second visit to his friend was like the first, except that the old men in the room watched them listlessly and did not play slapjack.
After much trouble Singer obtained permission to take Antonapoulos out with him for a few hours. He planned each detail of the little excursion in advance.They drove out into the country in a taxi, and then at four-thirty they went to the dining-room at the hotel.Antonapoulos greatly enjoyed his extra meal.He ordered half the dishes on the menu and ate very greedily.But when he had finished he would not leave.He held to the table.Singer coaxed him and the cab driver wanted to use force.Antonapoulos sat stolidly and made obscene gestures when they came too close to him.At last Singer bought a bottle of whiskey from the hotel manager and lured him into the taxi again.When Singer threw the unopened bottle out of the window Antonapoulos wept with disappointment and offense.The end of their little excursion made Singer very sad.
His next visit was the last one, for his two weeks'vacation was almost over. Antonapoulos had forgotten what had happened before.They sat in their same corner of the room.The minutes slipped by quickly.Singer's hands talked desperately and his narrow face was very pale.At last it was time for him to go.He held his friend by the arm and looked into his face in the way that he used to do when they parted each day before work.Antonapoulos stared at him drowsily and did not move.Singer left the room with his hands stuffed hard into his pockets.
Soon after Singer returned to his room at the boarding-house, Mick and Jake Blount and Doctor Copeland began to come again. Each one of them wanted to know where he had been and why he had not let them know about his plans.But Singer pretended that he did not understand their questions, and his smile was inscrutable.
One by one they would come to Singer's room to spend the evening with him. The mute was always thoughtful and composed.His many-tinted gentle eyes were grave as a sorcerer's.Mick Kelly and Jake Blount and Doctor Copeland would come and talk in the silent room—for they felt that the mute would always understand whatever they wanted to say to him.And maybe even more than that.
到了仲夏,辛格的客人比别的房客都多。晚上,他的房间里几乎总会传出说话声。在纽约咖啡馆吃过晚饭之后,他洗完澡,穿上一套清凉的浴衣,照常不再出门。房间里凉爽宜人。他壁橱里有个冰柜,里面放着冰啤酒和水果饮料。他从来不手忙脚乱,也不匆匆忙忙,总是站在门口,带着好客的笑容迎接他的客人。
米克喜欢上楼到辛格先生的房间去。尽管他是个聋哑人,却能听懂她说的每一个字。跟他聊天就像做游戏,但比做游戏有意思得多,就像发现了新的音乐知识一样。她不愿跟任何人说的一些计划,却愿意跟辛格先生说。他任她摆弄那些可爱的象棋小人儿。有一次,她很兴奋,衬衫下摆卷进了电风扇,他表现得那么和善,没让她感觉到一丁点尴尬。除了她爸爸,辛格是她认识的最可亲的男人。
科普兰医生给约翰·辛格写信,说了奥古斯塔斯·本尼迪克特·马迪·路易斯的事情,之后收到了一个礼貌的回复,并邀请他有机会前去做客。科普兰医生到了辛格所在的房子,先走到后面,跟波西娅在厨房里坐了一会儿,然后上楼到那个白人的房间去。的确,这个白人身上没有那种无言的傲慢。他们一起喝柠檬汽水,哑巴把他想知道的那些问题的答案一一写了下来。这个人跟科普兰医生见过的任何白人都不一样。过后,他琢磨了这个白人好长时间。后来,由于对方的热诚邀请,他又去拜访了一次。
杰克·布朗特每个星期都来。他上楼去辛格的房间时,整个楼梯都在颤动。通常,他会带来一纸袋子啤酒。房间里经常会传出他高亢而又愤怒的声音,但离开之前,他的声音往往会渐渐平息下来。下楼时,他手里便没有了那袋子啤酒,他若有所思地走出去,似乎并不在意方向。
有天晚上,就连比夫·布兰农都来到了哑巴的房间,但他不能长时间离开餐馆,因此,半个小时以后他便走了。
辛格总是对所有人都一视同仁。他坐在窗前的直背椅上,双手插进口袋,点着头或微笑着,让客人知道他听得懂。
如果晚上没有客人,辛格会去看场晚场电影,他喜欢坐在那里看着大屏幕上的那些演员说话,看着他们走来走去。看电影之前,他从来不去看电影名字,而且不管放什么电影,他都看得津津有味,极其认真。
后来,七月份的一天,辛格突然不辞而别。他把房间的门敞开着,桌上留了一封信,是写给凯利太太的,里面放了四块钱,用来付上周的房租。他把几件简单的物品都带走了,房间里干干净净,空无一物。他的客人们来到这里,看见空荡荡的房间,又吃惊又难过,都转身离去了。没有人知道他为什么要这样离开。
整个暑假,辛格都待在安东纳普勒斯所在的小镇上。好友住在这个镇上的精神病院里。为了这次行程,他准备了好几个月,想象着他们见面后的每一个细节。他提前两周预订了旅馆,把火车票放进信封里,然后一直把信封放在口袋里,放了很久。
安东纳普勒斯一点都没变。辛格走进他的房间时,他平静地慢步走过来,迎接他的朋友。他比以前胖了,但脸上那种恍惚的笑容还是老样子。辛格抱着几个包裹,大块头希腊人第一眼注意到的便是这些包裹。他的礼物是一件猩红色晨衣、柔软的卧室拖鞋,还有两件印有姓名字母的长睡衣。安东纳普勒斯仔细地查看着盒子里的包装纸的底下,看到底下并没有藏着什么好吃的,便不屑一顾地把这些礼物扔到床上,再也不看一眼。
房间很大,阳光充足,几张床摆成一排,中间留有空隙。三个老人在角落里玩排杰克的纸牌游戏,他们并没有注意辛格或安东纳普勒斯。这两位朋友单独坐在房间的另一头。
辛格觉得他们好像很多年都没见了似的,他有那么多话要说,两只手比画的速度都跟不上了,一双绿眼睛里燃烧着激情,额头上闪着汗珠。那种熟悉的快乐和幸福感再次迅速涌遍全身,他几乎无法自持。
安东纳普勒斯那双漆黑油亮的眼睛盯着好友,一刻都没有挪开,两只手无精打采地摩挲着裆部。辛格首先跟他讲了那些经常来看自己的客人。他告诉好友,这些客人分散了他的注意力,使他感觉不那么孤独。他告诉安东纳普勒斯,他们都很奇怪,经常在说话——但他喜欢让他们去做客。他画了杰克·布朗特、米克和科普兰医生的速写肖像,看到安东纳普勒斯并不感兴趣,便立刻把草图揉成一团,扔到一边。看护走进来对他们说时间到了,这时辛格的话连一半还没说完,但他还是离开了房间,虽然很累,却很幸福。
只有星期四和星期天病人们才可以会客。不能去见安东纳普勒斯的时候,辛格总是在旅馆房间里来回踱步。
他第二次去见好友时,情形跟第一次一样,只有一点区别:房间里的那几个老人没有玩纸牌,全都无精打采地望着他俩。
辛格费了很大力气,才终于得到允许,可以带安东纳普勒斯出去待几个小时。他预先为这次小小的短途旅行安排好了每个细节。他们乘出租车到了乡下。四点半,他们回到旅馆的餐厅。安东纳普勒斯非常喜欢这次加餐。他把菜谱上一半的菜都点了个遍,吃得狼吞虎咽。但吃完以后,他却不肯离开,紧紧抓住桌子不放。辛格连哄带骗,出租车司机则想动用武力。安东纳普勒斯呆呆地坐在那里,他们一靠近,他就做出一些下流的手势。最后,辛格从旅馆经理那里买了一瓶威士忌,总算把他又引回出租车上。辛格把没开封的那瓶酒扔出窗外的时候,安东纳普勒斯失望地大哭起来,而且非常生气。这次短途旅行的结局让辛格很伤心。
下一次探望便是最后一次了,因为他两个星期的假期马上就要结束了。安东纳普勒斯全然忘记了之前发生的事情。他们同样坐在房间的那个角落里,时间飞快地流逝着。辛格用两只手拼命说话,狭长的脸很苍白。终于,到了他该离开的时间。他抓住好友的胳膊,望着他的脸,就像以前他们每天上班前分别的时候一样。安东纳普勒斯昏昏欲睡地盯着他,一动不动。辛格双手紧紧插在口袋里,走出了房间。
辛格回到租住公寓的房间后不久,米克、杰克·布朗特和科普兰医生便又开始来拜访了。他们都想知道他去了哪里,为什么他不让他们知道他的计划。但辛格假装听不懂他们的问题,他的笑容高深莫测。
他们一个接一个地来到辛格的房间,陪他度过夜晚时光。哑巴总是一副若有所思、镇定自若的样子。他那双色彩丰富的眼睛很温柔,却又很严肃,像一双巫师的眼睛。米克·凯利、杰克·布朗特和科普兰医生经常来到这个寂静的屋子里说话——他们觉得,无论对哑巴说什么,他都会明白。也许,还不仅仅如此。